Wrestling training device

ABSTRACT

The invention is a wrestling training device which helps wrestlers work on skills that will improve their ability to defend against someone attacking one or both legs. The device primarily has several main components, namely an upper body portion with a head and arms, a handle attached to the rear of the upper body portion and wheels on the bottom of the unit. The head and arms are human shaped, and the arms are designed so that they that appear to be reaching as if they were about to grab the legs of another person. The device can be inflated with air filled with other materials that would be safe for the intended purpose. The handle attaches to the rear end of the upper body balloon and is used to push the training device toward a person working on defending his or her legs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of earlier priority based upon the filing of a provisional application—Ser. No. 60/744397.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a wrestling training device.

2. Background

In the classical sport of wrestling, two participants compete with one another in a contest in which each of the two opponents struggles hand to hand in an attempt to achieve physical dominance over the other. The goal is to force each other's shoulders to the floor, thus scoring a fall and winning the match. Points are awarded for various holds and techniques during the bout, and if neither wrestler can score a fall within the time limit, the competitor with the most points wins.

Wrestling is popular throughout the world. There are three basic styles of amateur wrestling, namely Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Collegiate-style. Freestyle is the most popular wrestling style in the world. The rules of freestyle wrestling permit an athlete to use the entire body in competition. Greco-Roman wrestling is especially popular in Europe, but it is practiced throughout the world. The distinctive features of Greco-Roman wrestling are that contestants must apply all holds above the waist, and that the use of the legs in scoring or defending is prohibited. Accordingly, tripping, tackling, and using the legs to secure a hold are not permitted. Collegiate-style wrestling, also known as folkstyle or scholastic, is a form of wrestling that developed in North America. This style of wrestling is practiced in high schools, colleges and universities, and many wrestling clubs. One feature that makes collegiate-style wrestling different from freestyle is that a wrestler must hold the opponent's shoulders to the mat for one second to earn a fall.

In order to train wrestlers will lift weights, do conditioning exercises such as running and cross training, drill with a partner, drill by themselves, drill on manufactured equipment and wrestle live with a partner.

The best type of training regimen, however, will include practicing various wrestling maneuvers and techniques with a training partner, who may be another wrestler or a coach. There are, however, a number of drawbacks associated with practicing with a training partner, including the obvious drawback—namely needing a training partner. It is sometimes difficult to find suitable training partners for an individual to practice with, and even if a training partner is available finding a partner who is the right size, strength and experience level presents another challenge. The fact that it is difficult to find training partners causes the wrestler to spend limited amounts of time actually working on and improving skills associated with defending against an attack. Another significant drawback associated with practicing with a training partner is injury. The more one participates in the sport of wrestling, even in simulated or training sessions, the more likely it will be that the wrestler will suffer injuries. Still another drawback is that even when a training partner is available, the insertion of a partner into the equation normally slows down training because the training partner, who is normally on the receiving end of maneuvers, will require greater periods of rest and recuperation, thereby slowing training.

Therefore, what is needed is a wrestling training device that does not suffer from the aforementioned problems, and which helps wrestlers or individuals involved in other combative sports, work on skills that will improve their ability to defend against someone attacking one or both legs, provides a more consistent pattern of leg attacks for an individual to train against, will allow the person training to do more precise defensive training drills in a shorter period of time, is designed to help individuals improve conditioning, reaction time, speed, ability to anticipate and counter attacking skills, eliminates the necessity for a human partner to do the attacking, and which at least cut down and potentially eliminate the risk of a human partner suffering injuries while serving as the attacking partner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing wrestling training device which helps wrestlers or individuals involved in other combative sports, work on skills that will improve their ability to defend against someone attacking one or both legs, provides a more consistent pattern of leg attacks for an individual to train against, will allow the person training to do more precise defensive training drills in a shorter period of time, is designed to help individuals improve conditioning, reaction time, speed, ability to anticipate and counter attacking skills, eliminates the necessity for a human partner to do the attacking, and which will eliminate the risk of a human partner suffering injuries while serving as the attacking partner.

The present invention is shaped in the form of the upper body of a wrestler initiating a single or double leg tackle. The main body of the device is preferably made of some type of rubber, plastic or latex (although other materials safe for the intended purpose can be used, such as leather, canvas, vinyl and other fibrous materials) and it is inflated with air or other gas (although it could be filled with a myriad of other materials safe for the intended purpose, including but not limited to feathers, foam, water, fabric, cotton, pillow material, paper or other fibrous materials).

The training device is preferably about the same height off the ground as a person would be if he or she were attacking at the lower thigh area of another person's legs. Of course, the height may vary according to the size of the upper body portion, and as is necessary to match the height needs of the wrestler using the device as a training tool. The chest area of the upper body of the training device, which can be made into different sizes, is facing toward the floor surface it is being used on.

The training device preferably has a human shaped head and arms that are reaching as if they were reaching out to grab the legs of another person. The training device also has a push cart that attaches to the body portion of the device, preferably at the rear end of the upper body portion and is use to push the training device toward a person working on defending against someone attacking one or both legs. It is preferred that the push cart be made from some type of plastic but any type of material that would work for the intended purpose can be used, including but not limited to aluminum, metal or wood.

In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the first part of producing the invention is getting the upper body portion made. The upper body portion is preferably a balloon, or at least made out of a balloon-like material that provides flexibility and durability, which is important because the upper body portion should be capable of the stresses that will be present while in use. PVC is the preferred material for the upper body portion, however, other materials may be used. A durable plastic is the preferred material for the push cart but other rubber type materials can also be used. The durability of the material used for the push cart must be able to withstand the stresses that will be in place while the invention is in use. Once a suitable mold to produce the push handle is complete, the handle will be ready for mass production. The handle will preferably be made by using an injection mold process or any process that will achieve the specifications needed for the push cart. Of course, it is not necessary to make a custom handle, although that is preferred. It should, however, be clear to those of skill in the art that in place of the push cart devices such as a hand truck or appliance dolly could be used. The wheels are preferably attached to the push cart, fastened to the axle that fits in a hole at the bottom of the push cart. Once the wheels are attached to the push cart, the entire push cart will be attached to the upper body portion.

In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the invention works by having one person push the invention toward a person who is working on his defensive skills. The person pushing the invention should preferably be a distance of 2-3 feet from the person who will react to the invention when it is pushed toward him or her. The person reacting to the attacking invention will work on skills such as a sprawl (which means sprawling the legs back away from the invention as it attacks), working on reaction time as the invention attacks, working on one's ability to anticipate the attack and working on counter attacking skills. As soon as a specific reaction or skill is performed on the invention, the invention can be and indeed should preferably be pulled back and readied for another attack. This will continue until the intended purpose of the training session is complete. Because there is no recovery time necessary for the invention the person training using the device can repeatedly (and quickly) train for as long as they wish.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide wrestlers a piece of equipment that will allow them to work on skills that will improve their ability to defend against someone attacking one or both legs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide wrestlers with a more consistent pattern of leg attacks for an individual to train against.

It is a further object of the present invention to allow the wrestler to do more precise defensive training drills in a shorter period of time, thereby allow for improved conditioning, reaction time, speed, ability to anticipate and counter attacking skills.

It is still further an object of the present invention to eliminates the necessity for a human partner to do the attacking, and which will eliminate the risk of a human partner suffering injuries while serving as the attacking partner.

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side angle view of the push cart.

FIG. 2A shows an alternative view of the push cart.

FIG. 2B shows an alternative view of the push cart.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the upper body portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a wrestling training device. It should, however, be clear to those of skill in the art that this device is capable of being used not only by wrestlers, but also by others who are in need of training in hand-to-hand combat.

The figures discussed below utilize various reference numerals. These reference numerals include:

-   -   10—overall invention     -   12—push cart     -   15—upper body portion     -   22—push cart handle     -   30—pocket on the rear of the upper body portion     -   32—push cart back plate     -   40—pocket on the bottom of the upper body portion     -   42—push cart foot     -   52—axle     -   62—wheel     -   70—valve     -   80—head portion of the upper body portion     -   85—neck portion of the upper body portion     -   90—arm portion of the upper body portion

With respect to FIG. 1, what can be seen is the overall invention 10, which is a combination of a push cart 12 and an upper body portion 15. The push care 12, which has a handle 22, a back plate 32, a foot 42 and preferably two wheels 62 connected via an axle 52.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper body portion 15 has a head portion 80, which is at the front of the upper body portion 15 and which is connected to the upper body portion through neck portion 85. The upper body portion 15 also has an arm portion 90, which is also located at the front of the upper body portion 15, and somewhat lower than the head portion 80. At the bottom of the upper body portion 15 is an valve 70. This valve 70 is essentially an opening that will allow the upper body portion 15 to be filled with various internal materials (not shown). Preferably, the upper body portion 15 is made of latex, rubber or plastic material, much like a balloon, but can be made of other more rigid materials, and can also be made of cloth, such as but not limited to cotton, polyester, nylon and burlap. The valve 70 is preferably an air valve, and the internal material used to fill the upper body portion 15 is air. Of course, the internal material used to fill the upper body portion 15 can also be water, sawdust, foam, sand, packing peanuts (which can but need not be biodegradable), rubber balls, cardboard, newspaper or other filling material commonly found in training dummies. Also shown in FIG. 1 are a rear pocket 30 and a bottom pocket 40 which respectively surround push cart back plate 32 and push cart foot 42, thereby attaching the upper body portion 15 to the push cart 12.

FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B all show various views of push cart 12. Each view shows a handle 22, a back plate 32, a foot 42 and preferably two wheels 62 connected via an axle 52. It is possible to have variations on this design. In fact, the push cart could be a hand truck, dolly or appliance dolly. Furthermore, the push cart foot 42 could be elongated so that the entire bottom of the upper body portion 15 would lay on the push cart foot 42. Additionally, any number of wheels could be added to the push cart foot 42. An even number of wheels is preferred, but the push cart 12 could be operated with as few as 1 wheel, which is preferably strategically placed directly under the center of gravity for the overall invention 10.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the overall invention 10, again depicting the rear pocket 30 surrounding the back plate 32. This particular figure, however, better depicts the preferred embodiment of the wheels 62, which are connected through an axle 52.

FIG. 4. shows another rear view of the overall invention, this time however without the push cart 12. Shown are the bottom pocket 40 and the rear pocket 30, which are of course attached to the upper body portion. The bottom pocket 40 and the rear pocket 30, in the preferred embodiment where the upper body portion 15 is made of latex, rubber or plastic, will be formed into the upper body at the time of fabrication, forming a seamless part of the overall upper body portion 15. In other embodiments, however, particularly those embodiments where the upper body portion 15 is made of some type of cloth, the bottom pocket 40 and rear pocket 30 can be attached to the upper body portion 15 through various means, such as but not limited to sewing, stitching, adhesive, pinning and ironing.

In order to use the present invention it would require one person to push the invention and another person who would be on the receiving end. The person receiving the invention would react to it by using what is commonly referred to in the sport of wrestling as defensive takedown skills.

The receiving person can work on any number of defensive skills that might be used to defend against someone attacking one or both legs. Some of the defensive skills that might be employed are wrestling skills commonly referred to as the sprawl, a skill called the snap and spin, a skill called arm drag and spin, a skill called the head shuck and spin and a skill called the back hand go behind. These are names of some of the skills that are familiar to many who are involved in the sport of wrestling. However, there are other combative areas that can be worked on such as conditioning, agility exercises, speed exercises, balance and coordination exercises.

In the preferred embodiment the person pushing the invention would pull the invention back and reset it each time that the receiving person performs a skill. The person pushing the invention could do it over and over until the desired result is obtained for each workout session with the invention.

While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings. 

1. A training device comprising: a push cart having a plurality of wheels attached thereto; and an upper body portion having a chest area, a head portion connected to said chest area, and at least one arm connected to said chest area; wherein said upper body portion is attached to said push cart.
 2. The training device of claim 1 wherein said upper body portion is made of latex.
 3. The training device of claim 2 wherein said upper body portion further comprises a valve.
 4. The training device of claim 3 wherein said upper body portion is filled a substance selected from the group consisting of air, feathers, fabric, foam, cotton, water, paper and pillow material.
 5. Training device of claim 4 wherein said push cart further comprises a handle, a back plate and a foot.
 6. The training device of claim 5 wherein said upper body portion further comprises a bottom pocket.
 7. The training device of claim 5 wherein said upper body portion further comprises a rear pocket.
 8. The training device of claim 6 wherein said upper body portion further comprises a rear pocket
 9. The training device of claim 6 wherein said bottom pocket is disposed around said foot portion of said push cart.
 10. The training device of claim 7 wherein said rear pocket is disposed around said back plate of said push cart.
 11. The training device of claim 8 wherein said bottom pocket is disposed around said foot portion of said push cart and said rear pocket is disposed around said back plate of said push cart.
 12. The training device of claim 11 wherein said upper body portion is made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, latex, leather, canvas and vinyl.
 13. The training device of claim 12 wherein said push cart is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, metal, aluminum and wood.
 14. A method of using a training device comprising: wheeling the training device toward a training subject; and pulling the training device back upon completion of said training subject's move;
 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: repeating said wheeling and pulling steps. 